Every one of us in the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic family wants to be of help to the people of Haiti. And we all know that there are literally hundreds of avenues and opportunities to do just that – most of them worthwhile and legitimate. And we all know, as well, that the needs are going to remain great for many months to come.
It occurred to me that some potential Haiti donors might prefer to channel financial help in a way that feels more personal and connected to the church. And so, with concurrence from our Executive Committee, I am suggesting an alternative for our monetary gifts: namely, the Haiti Fund, Inc. John Winings, our former Interim Synod Executive, is the CEO of that very worthwhile enterprise, which has been doing excellent work in Haiti for a good while, and will be around for the long haul. We are going to set up a special “pass-through” account here at the Synod, and invite anyone in our Mid-Atlantic family to make a gift to Haiti relief in this way. You can be assured that 100% of your gift will be put to very good use in Haiti.
Thanks for your consideration.
David McKee
Synod Executive & Stated Clerk
4th Annual Beach Retreat
Ah February!!!! A wonderful month! The snow today, the snow on Friday and maybe even the snow on Easter, the way this winter is shaping up. There is lots going on this February. First, it’s Black History Month, so look for weekly features celebrating the life and legacy of African American’s past and present. Second, register for the New Castle Presbytery Retreat/VESSEL Event.The deadline is NOW!!! Log on to our web-site and check out the registration brochure. The classes are interesting, the food is good and you get an ocean front room! And last but not least, it’s Valentine’s month. Tell someone you love them and show the love of God to all you meet!
Jackie Taylor
Associate Executive Presbyter
This Week in Black History
W.E.B. Du Bois "Credo"
Du Bois is viewed by many as a modern day prophet. This is highlighted by his "Credo" - a prose-poem written in 1900 when he was just 23 and first published in The Independent in 1904. It was written in style similar to a Christian creed and was his statement of faith and vision for change). Credo was widely read and recited and revered by many during his time -- and still is today, over 100 years later. Here are some excerpts.
I believe in God who made of one blood all races that dwell on earth. I believe that all men, black and brown and white, are brothers, varying, through Time and Opportunity, in form and gift and feature, but differing in no essential particular, and alike in soul and in the possibility of infinite development.
Especially do I believe in the Negro Race; in the beauty of its genius, the sweetness of its soul, and its strength in that meekness which shall yet inherit this turbulent earth.
I believe in pride of race and lineage and self; in pride of self so deep as to scorn injustice to other selves; in pride of lineage so great as to despise no man's father;
I believe in Liberty for all men; the space to stretch their arms and their souls; the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color; thinking, dreaming, working as they will in a kingdom of God and love.
Finally, I believe in Patience -- patience with the weakness of the Weak and the strength of the Strong, the prejudice of the ignorant and the ignorance of the Blind; patience with the tardy triumph of Joy and the mad chastening of Sorrow -- patience with God.
Help Wanted
First Presbyterian Church, Newark is looking for an Interim Contemporary Worship Leader for our Sunday morning worship service to lead our Praise Team. Download flyer for more information: Interim Worship Leader.pdf
Technology and the Church
New Castle Presbytery's Web guru, Tom Davis, has turned his hobby of two decades into a ministry of Web literacy education. Tom's growing sense of call after retirement was to use digital communication to promote better understanding and cooperation among Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and to work on interfaith peacemaking in general. However, he realized that digital communication would not be an effective tool for this purpose unless more people become savvy consumers and producers of digital information. So, through photography, videography and writing Tom has set about to advance Web literacy. He invites you to subscribe to his new blog called CyberKen at http://blog.teledavis.com. There you will find articles about easy-to-use and inexpensive resources for increasing your church's productivity, and ways to reach younger people with diverse Web media. Here is Tom's most recent post at CyberKen, an introduction to Gmail:
American Heart Month
Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are our nation's No. 1 killer.
Heart Attack Warning Signs
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the "movie heart attack," where no one doubts what's happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Learn the signs, but remember this: Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number.
Are there groups in your church or community that would like to learn CPR?
To help find trainers - Contact Donna Bowers RN, MDiv (bowcom@comcast.net)
Attention Clerks
ALL PRESBYTERY RECORDS REVIEWS
Detailed information about the new records review timing will be sent via E-mail to all clerks by February 12th. Please be on the look out and read it carefully. Any questions? E-mail or call Nora Andresen,circle15@comcast.netor 610-388-3620 ASAP. Thank you.
Volunteers Needed This Friday to Help with Haiti Relief Efforts
The earthquake in Haiti was the worst natural disaster in recorded history in the Western Hemisphere. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance/Church World Service needs help getting needed CWS hygiene kits to Haiti. While they have already sent tens of thousands of these kits; many more are needed now. The Brethren Service Center (BSC) in New Windsor, Maryland is the key distribution center for Church World Service. It is about 100 miles/ a 2 hour drive on major roads from Wilmington; a map and directions are on their web site.
They need volunteers to check the contents of hygiene kits made by churches throughout the USA and pack them for shipping to Haiti. It is sitting-down work at a table. You can see photos of some Limestone Presbyterians working at BSC last Friday on Limestone web site. We had some retirees and college students go down with us:
You can imagine the BSC staff is very busy. Limestone Pastor Bruce Gillette agreed to help recruit volunteers for this coming Friday. They need at least a dozen more volunteers this coming Friday, February 5th, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. We would welcome people coming for the morning, afternoon or all day. They also have an option of coming down the night before and staying at the BSC conference center's comfortable rooms (we did this last week) so they could work the whole day.
Please share this note with people in your churches who might be able to help out this Friday with the relief efforts for Haiti and ask them to contact Carolyn or Bruce Gillette by email, bcgillette@comcast.net, or calling (office: 302-994-5646 or home: 302-994-0220).
We would also welcome hearing from people who might not be able to go this Friday, but who would be interested in future dates of helping with the hygiene kits to Haiti at BSC. Thank you!
Souper Bowl of Caring
Join the movement that is transforming Super Bowl weekend into the nation’s largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving.
Souper Bowl of Caring equips and mobilizes congregations, schools and businesses to positively impact their communities by collecting money or food on or near Super Bowl weekend. 100% of the collections are donated directly to the charity of each group's choice.
Presbyterian Hunger Program has posted Rev. Carolyn Gillette's hymn, God, You Give Us Regreation, for Souper Bowl Sunday on their web site: http://www.pcusa.org/hunger/hymns/souper.htm
Limestone PC Men's Ministry
NOTE: Please check theLimestoneChurchhome page on Saturday morning
The Men’s Ministry of Limestone will hold their Eleventh Annual
Chili/Soup Cook-off at Limestone on
Saturday February 6, 2010
11:30AM - 1:30PM.
See Doug Tipton or Ron Crick if you would like to enter
a chili or soup and/or if you want a table for an
informational display featuring mission and community outreach/service activities and/or organizations
Vote for your favorite chili and/or soup entry and enjoy a bowl of our world famous community pot chili!!
$5.00/person at the door; children 12 & under free..
or
$2.00/person + a food item(s) for the food closet
Contact the Limestone office for more information and/or tickets.
3201 Limestone Wilmington, DE – Ph. 302.994.5646
Dr. Sue Makin visits Westminster PC, Wilmington
Dr. Sue Makin,who recently returned from years of service inMalawiand the Democratic Republic of Congo,will be visiting Westminster PC,Wilmington,on Sunday, February 7th. She will be sharing her experiences and talking about her exciting plans during the Education Hour at 10:10 am. A light luncheon is planned following the 11:15 am service. Dr. Makin will be honored for her years of service during the luncheon. All are welcome to join the celebration. It is very important that you call Westminster PC at (302) 654-5214 if you plan to attend.
Restorative Justice inDelawareConference
WHAT: Restorative Justice in Delaware Conference
WHEN: Thursday, April 15, 2010
WHERE: Kent County Levy Court, Dover
WHY: To learn from leading authorities about the applications of Restorative Justice in the judiciary, prisons, social service, education, domestic violence and land planning.
Presentations will be made relating Restorative Justice tocriminal justice, domestic violence, prisons, education, social services and land use planning.Please share information about this conference with your church members who work in these areas as well as your church deacons ("It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith" Book of Order, G-6.0402).
PCUSA@UD
Alternative Spring Break
Service Trip
To
Meridien, Mississippi
Sunday, March 28 – Saturday, April 3
A group of ten to twelve will work with the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Meridien, Mississippi, though located more inland on the Gulf Coast, still experienced a need for housing after Hurricane Katrina, when 30,000 displaced folks fled there. Ten thousand remain in the area.
Spaces for this trip will be available first to students at the University of Delaware and then to other adults in the Presbytery – college age and beyond.
For more information, please contact PCUSA@UD campus pastor, Rev. Nona Holy at nholy@udel.edu , 302-299-9077(cell), or 302-454-7801(work).
Featured Resources at the Interfaith Resource Center
The groundbreaking book by Brian McLaren Everything Must Change is now available in DVD as an eight-session small group study. His premise is simple but profound. While the institutional church becomes embroiled in worship wars and debates about who is eligible to be ordained, the profound issues of global importance are ignored. McLaren claims a different reading of scripture that returns Jesus calling for the Kingdom of God to this world and its problems. This is a study sure to spark valuable discussions.
ReNew: The Green VBS from Spark House is based on the Parable of the Sower. Designed to be an ecofriendly VBS kit, it includes a leaders notebook, a CD and DVD, & a few support materials in a completely recyclable box. This resource does not appear in our 2010 VBS chart, but you may preview it by contacting the Interfaith Resource Center at 302.477.0910 or 800.336.6152 ordirector@interfaithresourcecenter.com. If you would like to receive a copy of the 2010 VBS chart, e-mail me. It will also soon be posted on our website. Dont forget Cokesbury Value Days with 20% discount ends February 8.
Keep up-to-date on Social Security with the Midweek Musings Newsletter
Social Security Q&A
Question:
My parents recently moved into a retirement community and they are signing their house over to me. Can I still get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or will home ownership make me ineligible? Read more: Feb 2010 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.pdf
Ah February!!!! A wonderful month!
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